“Share a Coke” Marketing Campaign

You know that feeling you get when somebody says your name? Whether it’s the barista at your favorite coffee shop or your neighbor across the street, it makes you feel valued, appreciated, and even a little special. Now think back to when you were a kid and you got to pick out a keychain at the gift store on vacation; you know, the one with your name on it. It was pretty awesome that this little trinket was made just for you, wasn’t it? If only there was a way to capitalize on these emotions to boost sales. Oh, wait, that’s exactly what Coca-Cola did with their “Share A Coke” marketing campaign that took the nation by storm this summer.

What Was the “Share a Coke” Marketing Campaign All About?

Essentially, Coca-Cola realized that the younger generation (teens and Millennials) were not drinking their classic beverage near as much as their predecessors. So they looked at what drives this age group and discovered that they love social media and they love themselves (after all, aren’t these the folks that invented the selfie?). In order to take advantage of both of these infatuations, Coca-Cola decided to get rid of the logo on their(gasp!) in exchange for the most popular names of their target market. For those with uncommon names, Coca-Cola also included general labels, such as BFF, Soul Mate, and Coworker.

What Made their Marketing Campaign So Special?

Pretty much everything. This marketing campaign combated so many different angles in one that it really does qualify as pure genius.

• First, it brought back the nostalgia of being a kid and getting a souvenir with your name on it. This prompted people to dig through shelf after shelf of soda cans just to find the one that displayed the perfect letter combination.
• Second, it encouraged sharing (and therefore, more spending). If you got a can from the vending machine at work prompting you to share the coke with your boss, then you better believe you gave it to your boss and bought yourself another one.
• Third, the campaign had true viral power. Whenever someone actually found a coke with their name on it, they posted it online for the world to see. And for those people who have odd spellings or made-up names, they could create a virtual coke can to share. Coca-Cola even had a traveling kiosk so people could instantly receive a real-life coke bottle with their name on it.
• Finally, it got people talking about Coca-Cola again. Even though their brand name was no longer on the label, everyone knew they were drinking a coke—some of them for the very first time. Will these people become lasting customers? Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure; all of these teens and Millennials introduced Coca-Cola to their vocabulary.

What Can You Learn?

So why does all of this really matter? Because it’s a great lesson in marketing. If you want to boost brand awareness and drive sales, you need to get the people’s attention by drawing on their innate human emotions—in this case, wanting to feel special. Not quite sure how to do this? Don’t worry; we’ve got your back. At Zero Gravity Marketing, we are all about improving your brand’s awareness and increasing sales in powerful ways. Contact us today to see how we can bring your company to the next level.